My mouth opened and closed a few times. When the truth refused to come, I gave him my back and walked to my dresser. My perfume collection stood proudly in the center, various bottles and liquids of all shapes and colors. I’d spent years finding scents I liked, and one of my favorite things to do before bed was find a scent to accompany me to sleep. Ash’s footfalls echoed through my room as I stared at my favorite floral perfume. It was nearly empty, and the only place that sold it was this little shop in Canada. It was expensive and had lasted me nearly three years.
Ash’s body heat surrounded me as he braced his hands on the dresser, caging me in. “Tell me the truth,” he commanded. “Will my story trigger you?”
He didn’t leave me much room, but I turned around to face him. “Yes.”
“Then—”
I put my hand on his chest. “You’re going to tell me because we can’t move on until you do.”
His fingers gripped my chin, forcing my head back. “What the fuck?” he rumbled, his eyes flashing with anger. “Move on?”
“I want you, Ash. I can’t have you unless we heal from this—from Benson.”
“I can assure you, Angel,” he said darkly, “Benson will never be a problem for you again.”
“Yes, I know. Agent Masters told me he’s dead and—” My mouth snapped shut, eyes going wide as it hit me. “Wait.” Idropped my hands from him, chest heaving. Malice lingered in the air. “How did you know he was dead?”
Those dark eyes looked me up and down as he bent his head, getting close. “Did you honestly believe a man like me would let that monster go unchecked after what he did to you?”
I jerked back against the dresser, a perfume bottle rolling. He caught it just before it fell off and gently put it back, not once taking his eyes off mine.
“Is Masters closing the case or do I need to hit the road?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Angel
“Is Masters closing the case or do I need to hit the road?”
“The job,” I rasped slowly as everything started to snap into place. “The job you told me about the night of the accident—that—you—you—” His hand covered my mouth as his free arm banded around my waist and yanked me to his chest. His nostril flared. “Your house is bugged. Until I get the all clear from Jake, don’t say that out loud.”
I blinked, frozen in his arms.
He put his forehead against mine, sighing. “You have no idea the lengths I would go to protect you, to avenge you,” he whispered, cupping my face.
My voice was jagged, barely audible. “You left Astoria to go after him, didn’t you?”
Those dark eyes flashed with fury. “Whether you’d shown up or not, I was going to.”
“What?” I breathed out, bringing my hand to my chest. “You—you—”
“Benson thought he was untouchable, and for a time, he was.…” he trailed off and turned his head. I stared at his profile, watching the sharp edges of his features shift in the shadows. Judging by the tension in his bearded jaw, he was struggling to find the words. “I don’t know how to confess this to you.”
“Do you regret killing him?”
“No. I will never regret any second spent ridding this planet of people who’ve hurt you.”
“Then why aren’t you looking at me?”
The temperature in the room dropped as he stepped away from me, devastation written all over his face. “I don’t want to talk about this in here.” His eyes met mine and my knees nearly gave way at the sight of the utter torture swirling within them. “Can we please go downstairs?”
Silently, I padded across the room, grabbed his hand, and led him into the living room. When I moved to the far corner, ready to turn on the lamp, he whispered, “Please don’t.”
I turned, unsure of how to move forward. “What do you want me to do, then?”
“Sit in the dark and listen to me.” His shadow shifted. “Please, Starlight.”
Clearing my throat, I moved to my spot on the couch, pulling the throw blanket over my bare legs. “Whatever you need.”
